(DALLAS, TEXAS, UNITED STATES) Thousands of travelers across the United States 🇺🇸 were stranded Monday as at least 130 new flights canceled, layered on top of a messy day of disruptions triggered by a Dallas outage and severe problems at several major hubs affected by weather, staffing, and a strike. Airlines most hit included American, Air Canada, Delta, SkyWest, and United. The disruption was sharpest in Dallas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, with ripple effects touching dozens of other airports through the evening of September 22, 2025.
What happened in Dallas (DFW, DAL)
A major telecom failure at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Dallas Love Field (DAL) knocked out key communications and ground systems.
- Airlines and airport teams reported more than 400 flights canceled in Dallas alone on Monday as they struggled to coordinate crews, assign gates, and dispatch aircraft safely.
- The outage cut through normal redundancy and forced a wave of backups that cascaded into missed connections nationwide.
- American Airlines, Southwest, and regional partners (including SkyWest) absorbed most of the operational hit.
- Even flights not directly tied to Dallas sometimes ran late or were canceled elsewhere because crews and aircraft were out of position.
Warning: Dallas remained the center of the crisis through Monday evening; airlines warned Tuesday could see continuing instability until aircraft and crews were repositioned.
West Coast hubs — San Francisco (SFO) and Los Angeles (LAX)
San Francisco and Los Angeles faced weather- and staffing-related strains that compounded the national disruption.
San Francisco (SFO)
– Fog and low visibility slowed morning departures and arrivals, requiring longer spacing between aircraft.
– Air traffic congestion, technical or staffing issues forced carriers to trim schedules and cancel early departures.
– United Airlines canceled multiple morning flights including UA2064 (to LAX), UA1577 (to Pittsburgh), and UA2409 (to Washington).
– Weather was the main factor, but staffing and operational strain pushed some flights beyond recovery windows.
Los Angeles (LAX)
– Low clouds and weather disrupted morning departures, creating gaps later in the day that were hard to fill.
– Delta, United, and American reported additional cancellations as the day progressed.
– With other hubs stressed, there were fewer spare aircraft and crews to recover late-afternoon and evening schedules.
Air Canada strike — cross-border pressure
Air Canada’s cabin crew strike entered its third day on Monday and added significant cross-border strain.
- The strike led the airline to suspend most of its ~700 daily flights, including about 430 to the United States, stranding roughly 130,000 passengers across North America.
- Major U.S. airports with heavy Air Canada traffic — New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Dallas — saw additional pressure.
- Air Canada warned passengers not to go to the airport unless they had confirmed new bookings.
- With no new talks scheduled Monday evening, further cancellations on Tuesday appeared likely.
Network impact and passenger experiences
The combination of the Dallas telecom outage, West Coast weather, and the Air Canada strike created a “perfect storm” across the network.
- At least 130 new flights canceled Monday, marking how fragile recovery can be when multiple systems falter simultaneously.
- Passengers reported:
- Long lines at customer service counters
- Delayed baggage
- Confusion over rebooking options
- Airlines emphasized digital self-service as the fastest route for rebooking; call centers were overwhelmed.
Practical guidance for affected travelers
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com and airline advisories in affected hubs, the best immediate steps are:
- Check your airline’s app or website immediately — digital tools are fastest for rebooking or refunds.
- Avoid airport lines when possible; use the airline’s online or app rebooking/refund options.
- Act quickly when a cancellation appears — early rebooking usually yields better results.
Additional travel tips and rules:
– US carriers must offer rebooking or a full refund when a flight is canceled, regardless of reason.
– For disruptions within the airline’s control (crew scheduling, maintenance), carriers often provide:
– meal vouchers
– hotel stays
– ground transportation
(Benefits vary by airline and situation.)
– For international itineraries touching the European Union, some passengers may qualify for monetary compensation under EC 261 if the airline was at fault.
– For domestic U.S. flights, compensation is less standardized; airlines often offer vouchers or accommodations for long delays when the cause is within their control.
Important: Document everything — emails, app updates, screenshots of flight-status changes, and receipts for meals or hotels. These records support refund or reimbursement claims later.
If you booked through a third party, contact that agent first, since airlines sometimes require the original ticketing agent to process changes or refunds.
Decision-making: rebook or refund?
Consider the following when deciding whether to wait for rebooking or request a refund:
- Travel purpose (time-sensitive vs. flexible)
- Alternate routes and nearby airports
- Ability to delay travel by a day or two (often improves options)
- If traveling for urgent reasons, prioritize nonstop flights or broader searches of nearby airports
Families, seniors, and passengers needing medications:
– Build extra time for moving through crowded terminals
– Pack key medications and snacks in carry-ons
– Request longer layovers when rebooking to protect tight connections
Business travelers:
– Request documentation from the airline showing cancellations or delays to support changes to meetings or expense claims
– Hotels and car-rental companies often waive change fees during mass disruptions when you can show proof of a canceled flight
Official resources
To understand airline commitments during major disruptions, consult the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard for carrier-specific promises on rebooking, refunds, meal and hotel options, and ground transportation:
U.S. DOT Airline Customer Service Dashboard
Quick reference — Conditions by airport
- Dallas (DFW, DAL): Severe telecom failure → >400 cancellations, widespread delays (American, Southwest, SkyWest).
- San Francisco (SFO): Fog/low visibility, air traffic congestion, staffing/technical issues → trimmed schedules and cancellations (United majorly affected).
- Los Angeles (LAX): Low clouds/weather → delays and cancellations across Delta, United, American, and others.
Outlook and next steps
- Airlines warned conditions could remain unstable into Tuesday, September 23. Even after Dallas systems are restored, repositioning aircraft and crews takes time.
- West Coast weather forecasts showed potential for more low-cloud pockets and arrival slowdowns, keeping pressure on SFO and LAX.
- With the Air Canada strike ongoing, U.S.–Canada routes faced continued cuts.
Key takeaway: act quickly, document everything, and use digital rebooking tools. Hold onto receipts and screenshots to support any reimbursement claims.
Human impact and closing notes
The ripple effects stretched beyond operational metrics — parents trying to reunite with kids, nurses rerouting to assignments, students returning for classes — and for many, a confirmed boarding pass mattered more than airline policies.
Airlines said they understood the urgency and promised steady updates as operations recovered. By late evening the situation remained fluid but clear in outline: at least 130 new flights canceled on Monday, a major telecom failure hobbling Dallas operations, West Coast weather and staffing issues, and an ongoing Air Canada strike that left little slack in the system.
Passengers overnighted in airports or hotels while agents processed standby lists and rebookings early the next day. Mobile alerts rolled out as carriers matched crew schedules with available aircraft, aiming to chip away at the backlog one flight at a time.
Final practical reminder:
– Check flight status before you leave home
– Use airline apps and websites first
– Expect lines and delays
– Prepare backup plans and keep meticulous records for refunds or reimbursement requests
With patience and swift action, travelers can often secure the best alternate options while airlines work to rebuild schedules and aircraft rotations.
This Article in a Nutshell
On September 22, 2025, U.S. air travel faced a multi-factor disruption: a major telecom failure at Dallas-Fort Worth and Dallas Love Field caused over 400 cancellations and cascading operational problems. West Coast hubs San Francisco and Los Angeles experienced weather and staffing-related delays and cancellations. Concurrently, an Air Canada cabin-crew strike suspended most of its roughly 700 daily flights—about 430 to the United States—stranding roughly 130,000 passengers. Combined, these events led to at least 130 additional flight cancellations nationwide. Airlines advised travelers to use digital tools for rebooking or refunds, document all communications and receipts, and expect instability into the following day as crews and aircraft are repositioned.
